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Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder Send a noteboard - 22/09/2010 08:55:34 PM
For example, when someone asks "may I know your name(, please)?" the answer is not "yes, you may"


But the actual question here is: "May I know your name?"; the answer is, "sure, it's Lyringlas". I mean, it is inferred that they want your name, but you're actually asking for the permission to do so. So if you take out the permission to ask for their name, what are you actually asking other than "who are you?". I just don't like this-- it isn't me being rude, I am pleasant on the phone, I just don't like asking permission.

you're asking permission to know, not to ask. Logically, if they accept, they will tell you the answer since the next question would be "what is your name, then?"

It's a matter of politeness I guess. Sometimes, people don't feel it's necessary to tell you who they are or just don't want to. But your phrase assumes they will tell you.
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. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:19:28 PM 1809 Views
I think "May I ask who's calling" is more polite. Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:26:55 PM 1223 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:31:17 PM 1177 Views
Well, but... Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:42:22 PM 1270 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:05:01 PM 1143 Views
you may not BE a receptionist... LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:20:09 PM 1282 Views
"And your name, so I can tell (the person you asked for)?" *NM* Hezzah - 23/09/2010 12:34:18 AM 568 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:33:24 PM 1260 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:38:45 PM 1115 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:55:34 PM 1428 Views
Well, the whole asking permission bit is part of being polite. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 09:05:43 PM 540 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:06:47 PM 1139 Views
Not so good for the phone answering, then. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:29:34 PM 567 Views
Hmm... Isaac - 22/09/2010 08:59:23 PM 1280 Views
It's "who" *NM* Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:50:15 PM 566 Views
Quite true Isaac - 22/09/2010 10:07:46 PM 1259 Views
I say, "May I ask who's calling?" Tigr - 22/09/2010 09:00:10 PM 1208 Views
What do you do if they say "No" ? TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:43:42 PM 1178 Views
Than you say. ''Ok." They may have a reason for not disclosing their name. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:56 PM 1193 Views
That reason is often that they are nutters. M & M Maddy - 22/09/2010 10:29:19 PM 1287 Views
I hate it when people pull the "attorney-client privilege" thing. Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:31:01 PM 1096 Views
They are almost invariably nutters. Elaine - 23/09/2010 01:45:41 PM 1568 Views
Ah, you mean because they want to sell my boss storm windows or vinyl siding. *NM* TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 10:30:15 PM 579 Views
Tools! Tigr - 22/09/2010 10:13:32 PM 1177 Views
I usually ask: "Who am I speaking with, again?" ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:12:29 PM 1272 Views
I'm of the opinion that when you are at work, you represent your employer M & M Maddy - 22/09/2010 09:14:58 PM 1406 Views
^ this. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:23:00 PM 542 Views
Re: I'm of the opinion that when you are at work, you represent your employer lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:42:29 PM 1367 Views
+1 *NM* Rebekah - 22/09/2010 10:10:59 PM 638 Views
I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:27:05 PM 1334 Views
Re: I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:40:10 PM 1351 Views
well, i can sympathize with that a bit at least LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:00:34 PM 1493 Views
"Who should I say is calling?" *NM* TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:41:57 PM 559 Views
This. It's polite, and asks the question correctly. beetnemesis - 23/09/2010 02:05:01 AM 1168 Views
I usually say "Who may I say is calling?" but that works too... Tom - 23/09/2010 01:59:03 PM 1559 Views
language games..... temeraire - 22/09/2010 09:42:35 PM 1204 Views
There would be apoplectic outcries if I answered the phone in such a way lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:45:56 PM 1389 Views
yeah.... i'm happy i get to be informal! temeraire - 23/09/2010 02:58:31 AM 1240 Views
Who is this? is unprofessional random thoughts - 22/09/2010 09:45:05 PM 1264 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:48:58 PM 1428 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:54:13 PM 1223 Views
it is not US standards. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:03:47 PM 579 Views
good. *NM* ironclad - 22/09/2010 10:13:22 PM 626 Views
I generally don't because BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 10:43:38 PM 1137 Views
well fair enough... ironclad - 23/09/2010 08:07:08 AM 1210 Views
it doesn't matter if you HAVE to know their name. LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:07:18 PM 1288 Views
You don’t have to transfer for them if they refuse but you should still ask politely random thoughts - 22/09/2010 10:31:55 PM 1295 Views
You are being silly and immature. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:20 PM 1085 Views
Thanks for your input? lyringlas - 22/09/2010 10:17:21 PM 1360 Views
I usually say, "B*tch, who you be!?" Mats Gambling Buddy - 22/09/2010 10:13:57 PM 1191 Views
Do you pronounce that with a click sound? Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 10:15:29 PM 1248 Views
And I be all, like, sobbing and crying cause you're a rude jerk. And then you laugh at me some more TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 10:33:38 PM 1194 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? Zeeb - 22/09/2010 10:29:33 PM 1051 Views
Perfect. *NM* Avendesora - 23/09/2010 12:47:14 AM 623 Views
No you are *NM* Zeeb - 23/09/2010 11:53:07 AM 626 Views
Please stop splitting hairs. You're way is simply inccorrect. You cannot justify the rudeness away. M & M Maddy - 22/09/2010 10:49:05 PM 1353 Views
politeness is practically the definition of professionalism. LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:37:27 AM 1251 Views
Who is this? always comes across as rude. *NM* Chas - 22/09/2010 11:17:31 PM 555 Views
"Who may I say is calling, please?" is short and polite. Tashmere - 23/09/2010 01:13:43 AM 1200 Views
when someone asks me "may I ask who's calling?"... damookster - 23/09/2010 03:29:30 AM 1162 Views
that's because you're a tool LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:39:08 AM 1470 Views
because it amuses me *NM* damookster - 23/09/2010 03:41:18 AM 567 Views
It's quite simple, really. Do you like getting paid? Then answer the phone the way your boss wants *NM* Missa Sedai - 24/09/2010 03:46:24 AM 601 Views
Huh Sareitha Sedai - 15/07/2015 02:06:55 PM 759 Views
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